Motivational baseball glove

Abstract

A baseball glove with integrated illumination means and circuitry that can control the pattern and timing of the illumination means to produce a lightshow. The lightshow may be triggered by the glove catching a ball, or by a separate switch. Optionally, the lightshow may be accompanied by audio signals.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims and is entitled to the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 763,214 filed on Jan. 30, 2006.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The current disclosure relates to a baseball gloves and other sporting equipment that can provide audio / visual feedback to the user as a motivational tool. The device also has further use as a cheering device.BACKGROUND[0003]“Playing Catch” with a young child at an early age is a time-honored tradition. It is good exercise, helps the child to improve coordination, develop an appreciation for sports) and builds a bond between the grown-up and child. To become proficient in the use of a baseball glove takes a lot of perseverance and practice. However, in this age of videogames and the Internet, there are a lot of distractions that might make the child engaged in an old-fashioned game of catch lose interest before long.[0004]What is desired is a tool that can reward young players in h...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present patent is about a baseball glove that has built-in lights and circuits to control the pattern and timing of the lights. This allows for a light show to be triggered when the glove catches a ball or when a separate switch is pressed. The light show can also be accompanied by audio signals."

Problems solved by technology

However, in this age of videogames and the Internet, there are a lot of distractions that might make the child engaged in an old-fashioned game of catch lose interest before long.

While a display of the speed or force of the ball thrown is useful to an adult or more advanced player, it is not useful or of interest to a younger player just learning to throw and catch consistently.

Further, since Reinbold teaches a force sensor that responds to pressure, such an application of a sensor to a baseball glove is only concerned with pitching and the speed of the ball thrown, and not to the training of fielding skills (i.e., how to catch the ball properly).

Finally, Reinbold did not disclose or contemplate the use of the glove as a visually appealing attention-grabber.

None of the prior art gloves discussed above is suitable for use as a training aid for young players in the game of baseball while also acting as an entertainment device that can produce an attention getting light show.

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